In another example of ANZ making the most of the global financial meltdown and expanding its business, the bank acquired a $2.4 Billion loan book from wheat exporter AWB, and the move will also extend the bank's customers relationships through "an exclusive referral agreement with AWB".

As per terms of the deal, AWB will benefit from capital release worth $155 Million, as the funds needed to support the loan book, but profits of the exporter might just come down by between $5 Million to $10 Million, and a $62 Million pre-tax loss will be recorded by the firm on the acquisition.

Before the company was hit by the financial crisis, AWB always managed to make a good enough return on its loan-book, but the returns were curbed by the firm's BBB-minus credit rating on the cost of keeping the loan.

Major Banks across the country have actually benefitted from the financial downturn which has helped them build their business, and ANZ has picked up nearly $678 Million in Asian assets from RBS, and CBA buying BankWest, among other deals.

AWB is, as of now, looking to simplify and restructure its business as it comes out of the "oil-for-food-scandal".